Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me, or to others in our school community, about safety and traffic at Cherry. We are lucky to have parents (and grandparents, and city officials) who are working to improve the conditions around Cherry so that our kids and families can walk or bike to school. I live in the neighborhood too!

One of our parents, Trevor Acorn, has initiated a request for a PIAC (Public Improvement Advisory Committee) to the city. We are requesting the addition of a raised mid-block crosswalk on Armour at Kenwood. Public support is very important. Please take a minute to read and sign this petition in support of our safety efforts.

We are putting together a small group to discuss this initiative and other improvements needed. In addition- we are continuing to look at our internal dismissal procedures and will be reaching out to a few parents to help. Please know that we are regularly discussing it here at Cherry and trying to find solutions. Please also understand that with the increased number of students this year and the reduced lanes on Armour- we have an incredibly challenging situation on our hands. Your patience and support are appreciated.

Heather Royce

Cherry Principal

The Académie Lafayette Board of Directors will meet virtually at 6:30 pm on September 13, 2021. You can view the meeting live on our YouTube channel. Click here to read the agenda and previous board meeting minutes.

Practice is typically once a week, any additional practices or workshops will be announced in advance. At this time, practice for the 21/22 Cheer Team will be on Wednesdays in the Armour gym or outside, weather permitting. No experience necessary, but commitment to the team, events, and regular attendance is required. Click here to sign up.

To join the team, students should attend at least one practice in September (15th, 22nd, 29th). Starting in October, any student not attending regularly/weekly will be cut from the team. All students must have the required Athletic forms submitted, they can be found here. *Students will not be able to participate in any Cheer events without these forms.

Questions? Contact Jessica Wallace, jwallace@academielafayette.org

Picture day information for this school year is as follows:

Bonjour Oak Families! We will be hosting a Fall Gardening Party on 9/24 from 4:30-6:00 pm. Please join us to pick veggies and flowers, help in the garden, and celebrate the Fall season. If you have any questions you can contact Adam Nachum, the Oak social worker at anachum@academielafayette.org.

Please feel free to donate anything that's not stained or ripped. Your child can drop it at the Oak front office or feel free to donate or shop on school days between 4:30 pm and 5 pm. You will need to be buzzed in.

If you are not able to make it in due to work schedule or life and need uniforms feel free to contact:

One of us will pack a bag for you at Oak and send home with your kiddo. Cherry will need to contact the social worker Sheila B. sbaskin@academielafayette.org and Armour Diane M Rizzo, diane.rizzo@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

The Uniform Closet Fairies (Sally, Missy, Diane)

Dear Families,

We want to make you aware of an important change regarding birthday celebrations for our students. At this time we will not be allowing birthday treats to be sent to school with your child. We will celebrate the student in class and with a birthday announcement and pencil from the principal. Our goal with this decision is to provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff by decreasing the amount of time students are without masks due to eating or drinking. Parents are welcome to send other, non-food treats to share (erasers, stickers, glow sticks, etc.).

Thank you for your understanding of our efforts to keep our students and staff healthy and safe.

Alexis Cook RN, BSN

School Nurse

Bonjour Oak Families!

This week, your child checked out a book from the library. We need your help to make sure all the books make it back every week. Please refer to the note from your homeroom teacher about when your child has library class to help remind them the night before to bring it with them to school to return it. Merci!

Madame Cook, hcook@academielafayette.org

We are very excited for this year’s Annual $10,000 Raffle Fundraising Event! Each year, this fundraiser becomes the most popular event with our students, parents and our community with opportunities for our students to win prizes while generating excitement for one lucky ticket-holder to win a $10,000 cash prize! Please look at the general guidelines for the raffle. Register your student here today! Students cannot be given credit and win prizes until registered by a parent/guardian.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Celia Liptak, Director of Development at cliptak@academielafayette.org.

Académie Lafayette is dedicated and committed to educate, graduate and inspire our diverse student population. Académie Lafayette makes certain that all students have access to the highest caliber staff and services available. Académie Lafayette also guarantees that our families are actively and meaningfully involved. Each & every individual at Académie Lafayette plays an important role in meeting the academic, social-emotional and physical needs of our students.

If you have a business or simply would like to consider sponsoring and/or donating for the Annual $10,000 Cash Raffle Fundraising Event, please click here.

Your sponsorship and/or donation will help provide financial assistance to our annual raffle and will help achieve promotional advantages for your business or organization!

For additional information please contact, Celia Liptak at cliptak@academielafayette.org.

Académie Lafayette's bus service is at capacity and we are currently unable to add any additional riders. All new bus rider requests will be waitlisted and added as space becomes available. We know that this will be an inconvenience for many of you and want to stress that we are doing what we can to try to continue transportation to our students.

Also, if your child is only riding one or two days a week, we are asking that you please consider other options that you might have in order to allow students who require daily transportation in order to attend school. We thank you all for your patience as we work through this bus shortage.

According to the CDC's COVID-19 k-12 guidance, "When teachers, staff, and students consistently and correctly wear a mask, they protect others as well as themselves." Correct mask usage is more important now than ever with the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 delta variant cases in Kansas City. We are asking all parents to join us in encouraging proper mask wearing, as well as provide a clean and proper fitting mask for their students each day. A properly fitting mask should cover the nose, mouth and chin; It should not gape on the sides, and should remain on the bridge of the nose at all times, even when the wearer is speaking. Students should change masks daily if possible, but should not be worn for longer than 2-3 days without washing. If a mask is visibly soiled, has tears or holes, or has a vent or valve it will be placed in the students backpack and a paper mask will be supplied to the child to complete the school day.

Our school nursing team is working closely with teachers and administration to identify where improvements can be made for the safety of our students, and we will be contacting parents of students who have been identified as having concerns with consistent masking or poorly fitting masks. Click here for the CDC guidance on masking.

Join us on Sept. 21 at 6 pm for the first PTO meeting of the year. Come learn more about the work of the PTO and our goals for the year. This is a great way for new families to connect with other AL families! Please watch the PTO website and Facebook page for more information, including format (in-person or online) details.

It's time to order the best bags in town! Trash bags and paper yard bags are on sale starting Monday, Aug. 23 and go through Sept. 24. These are quality bags suitable in size and strength for your KCMO trash needs and never-ending yard work. As always, proceeds benefit our PTO!

Visit the PTO website for the order details and link to the online portal. If you have any questions or cannot order online, please contact: Sara Clark at 816-729-5810 or sarajeanclark@hotmail.com.

Nationally, there is a critical shortage of bus drivers and Kansas City is experiencing the shortage of drivers as well and our current bus company (CityWide) is seeking qualified bus drivers. Académie Lafayette's buses are currently at capacity and in order to continue adding new riders, we need to add more buses, but there are no drivers available. Bus driver requirement - CDL with P&S endorsement.

If you or anyone you know would be interested, please contact:

Laurie Brewer, CityWide Transportation, 816-241-8822